Rift persists between Nevada woman, daughter over 2 family murders

CARSON CITY — A family tragedy that has seen two family members slain and a third facing the potential of life in prison continues to play out for Southern Nevada residents Stephanie Brass and daughter Katrinna.

The nightmare has also put the mother and daughter on opposing sides of the nightmarish events of January 2009.

A recent Nevada Supreme Court ruling involving the family’s misfortunes has forced Katrinna Brass, a home health care provider and mother of three, to relive, yet again, the nightmare of her husband’s slaying in Las Vegas more than five years ago.

Not only did she lose her husband, Ernest Mitchell, but the suspects were two of her brothers, Ronnie and Jermaine Brass.

Adding even more tragedy to the situation, Ronnie Brass was stabbed to death at Ely State Prison in March 2012 while serving time for the killing.

No one has been charged with his death. The state attorney general’s office reported that there is not enough evidence to identify his assailant at this time.

“At the end of the day, I lost my husband, my brother, and another brother was totally responsible,” Katrinna Brass said. “It’s a very difficult position for me to be in. I have lost family members on both sides. I don’t speak to my ex-mother-in-law. My relatives don’t get along either. Nobody would want to live this nightmare.”

Stephanie Brass, 55, said she remains confused about how the terrible events occurred in the first place.

“It’s so confusing,” she said. “I don’t know how to cope with it.

“I didn’t believe they could do something like that, because at the time every­one was like family. I still don’t know what really went on.”

Katrinna Brass, 31, said she would like to put the whole tragic series of events behind her. But that won’t happen anytime soon.

Jermaine Brass won a new trial from the state Supreme Court because of issues about the composition of the jury that originally convicted him and his brother for the crime.

Because of the reversal of his previous conviction, Jermaine Brass has not been found guilty of any crimes related to Mitchell’s death. His attorney could not be reached for comment on the status of his case.

In a novel case for Nevada, Ronnie Brass’ conviction for the crime was also recently overturned by the state Supreme Court for the same jury selection issue, despite his death more than two years ago.

In a case of first impression in Nevada, the court ruled that a personal representative can be substituted in such cases to allow an appeal to continue.

“Although the appellant is deceased, rectifying a constitutional error nevertheless benefits society, because it decreases the chances that another person would fall victim to the same error,” Justice Michael Douglas wrote in the unanimous decision released May 29.

In this case, Stephanie Brass, Ronnie’s mother, was named the personal representative. She said Friday she pursued the case to “clear my son’s name.”

“I want to clear my other son’s name as well,” she said.

Reading about the ruling caused both Katrinna and Stephanie Brass to have to relive the painful memory.

Jermaine Brass is expected to go to trial for a second time on the murder charge and other charges in Clark County District Court.

Katrinna Brass testified in the original trial as a witness for the prosecution, further complicating her relationship with her mother and other family members.

“We don’t speak about what happened,” she said of her mother. “I think about it every day. I thought that with time it would get easier, but it never does.”

Katrinna Brass said her brother Jermaine should acknowledge his involvement in the crime and serve his time.

“At the end of the day, I want justice to be served,” she said.

The shooting occurred after Mitchell accused the two brothers of stealing tires and rims from his home.

Mitchell then was shot while standing in his doorway.

Katrinna Brass said there was bad blood and a lot of jealously between Jermaine and her husband.

“There was a lot of competition,” she said. “They were both hot heads.”

Katrinna Brass had to identify her husband’s body at the coroner’s office.

The brothers were tried together, and both were sentenced to life terms for the slaying until the convictions were overturned on appeal.

Brass went from being married and having a home to being homeless after the killing.

She is now remarried and trying to move on with her life.

“It has made me a very strong person,” she said.

Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801.